(Closed) First prenatal appointment tomorrow – what should I expect?

Six weeks. Ultrasound (internal? Ack!). Full history. What else should I expect? My husband is going, I have the dates of my menstrual periods since June and my LMP and cycle calculations, the prenatals I’m taking, the supplements I’d like to start taking again, and a big list of questions — both about things I can/ can’t do and about the practice.

Am I missing anything? Clearly I’m over-planning. 🙂

And, um, wth is an internal ultrasound? Yes, I googled, but a little freaked.

An internal is when they use a probe inside your vagina. No worries though, I’ve had pap smears that are more uncomfortable. This will be your longest pre-baby appointment so make sure you have your histories ready of all the questions and health issues between you and your SO…good luck!

I had an internal last week for other reasons (not pregnant). It was not bad at all! The only time it felt uncomfortable was when they angled the probe/wand thing. It doesn’t hurt. They put a lot of lubricant on it. I agree that pap smears are 1000x worse (I really hate them).

My first prenatal appointment was with a nurse. I just filled out a lot of my and my families medical history. No sort of exam whatsoever, not even bp or weight. They just gave info and got my info and gave lots of papers to go over. My next appointment was 2 weeks later and that’s when they did the internal ultrasound. I was about as inexperienced as it comes when it goes to doctors poking around down there and I didn’t think it was bad.

But then again I think there’s a mommy wave of you can punch me in the face if you’ll show me my baby’s heartbeat (but it’s not nearly as bad as a punch in the face).

Definitely agree with the PP, an internal U/S is not that bad. It can be uncomfortable if you have to pee but they usually have you empty your bladder. At least they do at my office. Since I am going through infertility treatments I have had at least one a month for the last 6 months, sometimes as many as 4 in a two week span.

For the internal ultrasound, make SURE they use the correct kind of condom on the proble. There are special ones designed to fit the probe correctly, and they look different than a regular condom. They are larger and contoured to fit properly. A regular condom won’t stay put on the probe and can expose you to all the yuckies on the probe. Ew!

Bloodwork, peeing in a cup (make sure you come in with a non-empty bladder so you can produce for the cup, and then make sure your empty your bladder before the ultrasound because that would just not be fun)

Seriously, the vag ultrasound isn’t bad at all, paps are way worse.

Paperwork- even if it’s your normal OB/GYN you’ll probably have to do additional paperwork as an OB patient.

Other than that, you got it. You’ll probably get a folder or something with various fact sheets and stuff like that. (mine had everything from “which meds can I take” to “where can I have someone check that I installed my carseat properly”)

Different doctors do first apts differently. Mine has you go to an orientation where they make you fill out tons of paperwork and ask you a million questions, then tell you the “do’s and don’ts” of pregnancy. Then they send you for bloodwork.

For the second apt. they give you an exam, no ultrasound. That doesn’t come for a while actually, I think they only listen to the heartbeat at 12 weeks unless something is wrong.

The internal ultrasound isn’t bad at all. You aren’t even paying attention to it b/c you are too busy looking at your baby.